Summary: Probably the most prophetic chapter of Revelation is the 17th. It is here where John gives us the meaning of the woman and the beast.

In the previous six verses we discussed the people in whom the beast and the woman represents, but there is also an system that is involved here also in which they will command with the powers and wonders of Satan the dragon.

Here John writes about the past and present that will eventually become a future world system.

See: Vs.8 When they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is

1. The City

See: Vs.7 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and the beast that carrieth her

See: Vs.9 The seven heads are the seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth

The description of Rome is often “The city of seven hills”

Vs.18 The woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The indication here is easily understood in John’s day as the Roman Empire

2. The Kingdoms

See: Vs.10 There are seven kings…

Kings= Kingdoms

As you study history in the Bible you will discover that before the four major world empires there were two other minor empires (Egypt and Assyria). In considering this biblical truth lets apply it to our text.

Vs.10 five are fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece)

“And one is” Roman

“And the other is not yet come…”

This is speaking of a future kingdom or world empire to come and the question would be, what is this kingdom or empire?

Mention: Rev. 13:1-3 tells us that this kingdom suffered a deadly wound, but somehow was healed or revived back into existence.